Rules Myths

[TwoBits]

Every year I keep of copy of common myths and misconceptions with corresponding rules references with my umpiring gear. I post the information at several of the ball parks I work at in attempt to education John Q. Public. Many of these myths are taken from Eteamz website of OBR myths, but many have been adapted to take in account FED rules differences.

If I have made any mistakes, please inform me of them. If anyone can think of some new ones that they commonly hear, please tell me those as well.

In my area, we only do FED and OBR (no ASA), so take that into account in your criticism. Thanks!

Top Baseball/Softball Rule Myths

PLEASE REMEMBER that these are MYTHS and therefore are all FALSE unless otherwise noted by high school or local league rules.

The Batter
· The hands are considered part of the bat. FALSE
· If the batter breaks his/her wrists when swinging, it's a strike. FALSE
· The batter cannot be called out for interference if he/she is in the batter's box. FALSE
· The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes. FALSE
· The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out. FALSE
· The batter is out if he/she starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike. FALSE
· If the batter does not pull the bat back while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike. FALSE
· The batter is out if a bunted ball bounces back up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat. FALSE
· The batter is out if his foot touches the plate. FALSE in all codes except high school. This is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. See high school baseball rule 7-3-2 & high school softball rule 7-3-2. In all codes, the batter is never called out if contact is not made with the pitch.
· A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit. FALSE
· The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces. FALSE

Running to First
· The batter-runner must turn to his/her right after over-running first base. FALSE
· The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls. FALSE in all codes except high school. This is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. See high school baseball rule 8-4-2h exception & high school softball rule 8-7-3d &
8-7-3e.
· The batter-runner is always out if he/she runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball. FALSE

Base running
· A runner is out if he slaps hands or high-fives other players after a homerun is hit over the fence. FALSE
· Tie goes to the runner. FALSE. It doesn’t go to the fielder, either. The runner either beats the throw or the throw beats the runner. Ties do not exist.
· The runner gets the base he/she is going to plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play. FALSE
· Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out. FALSE
· Runners may never run the bases in reverse order. FALSE
· The runner must always slide when the play is close. FALSE, but some local leagues and age groups have mandatory slide rules. Check with your local league manager.
· The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base. FALSE in baseball, but TRUE in softball. See high school softball rule 8-8-13.
· A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball. FALSE
· Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called. FALSE


Fair/Foul, Foul Tips, and Others
· If a batted ball hits the plate first, it's a foul ball. FALSE
· If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball. FALSE
· The ball is dead on a foul tip. FALSE
· A runner may not steal on a foul tip. FALSE
· If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds, it's a catch. FALSE
· If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence, it is a homerun. FALSE
· The ball is dead anytime the ball hits an umpire. FALSE
· The home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime. FALSE

Appeals
· It is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on a fly ball. FALSE
· An appeal on a runner who missed a base cannot be a force out. FALSE
· No run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for not tagging up. FALSE
· You must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal. FALSE
· The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made. FALSE

Pitching
· The ball is always immediately dead on a balk. FALSE, but this is TRUE if a league is using high school rules, but in baseball only. See high school baseball rule 5-1-1k. In softball, the term “balk” is replaced with the term “illegal pitch”. However, in softball an illegal pitch is a delayed dead ball and may be hit by the batter if the pitch is released. In this case, after the play ends, the batting team may elect to take the illegal pitch penalty or take the result of the play. See high school softball rule 5-1-2a.
· With no runners on base, it is a ball if the pitcher starts his windup and then stops. FALSE, but this is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. See high school baseball rule 6-1-2 Penalty & high school softball rule 6-1-2a Penalty.
· The pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw. FALSE (Pickoffs not used in softball.)
· The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off throw. FALSE (Pickoffs not used in softball.)
· In softball, the pitcher must release the ball after the first time it passes the hip toward the plate. FALSE

Sources: On the Internet…http://www.eteamz.com/baseball/rules/obr/myths/
2005 National Federation of High Schools Baseball Rules Book
2005 National Federation of High Schools Softball Rules Book

[whiskers_ump]

twobits,

Go here: http://eteamz.active.com/softballumpires/

Then go to handouts......

Had to beat Dakota..It is his board.

[Skahtboi]

The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls. FALSE in all codes except high school. This is TRUE if a league is using high school rules. See high school baseball rule 8-4-2h exception & high school softball rule 8-7-3d & 8-7-3e.

The rule you quoted here merely has to do with the lookback rule. It doesn't prevent a runner from over running first base on a base on balls.

8:7:d states: "A batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field, turns left and move back to the infield in anu direction except directly toward second base is committed to first base and must return to first base."

8:7:e: "A batter-runner who overruns first base toward right field and turns right is committed to first base and must return to first base."

No where does it say that a batter-runner, who has become such due to a base on balls award, may not overrun first base. This rule does cover the responsibilities of a batter-runner who has completed her turn at bat, while the pitcher has the ball in the 16 foot circle, including a base on balls or a dropped third strike.

Therefore, this is one myth I would omit from the list.

[mcrowder]

Actually, Skaht - what you refer to reinforces that the myth is a myth. Tim just doesn't need the exceptions for HS. The myth is --- "The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls." That statement is false, and is a myth. Just delete the rest of the stuff about H.S.

[TwoBits]

In OBR, there is no mention of a batter-runner over running first base on a BB, therefore he may do so. In FED baseball, 8-4-2h exception specifically mentions the possibility and the BR is in jeopardy to be put out. FED softball does not make that distiction just as OBR, so perhaps the myth should be written as such:

·The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls WITHOUT LIABILITY TO BE PUT OUT. FALSE in all codes except high school, but in baseball only. This is TRUE if a league is using high school baseball rules. See high school baseball rule 8-4-2h exception.

The information about HS needs to be put in there as the leagues in my area use FED rules. ASA is practically non-existent in this area.

Thoughts?

[Dakota]

If you try to put together a combo softball/baseball rules myths list, you'll end up with unnecessary complexity.

Keep 'em separate.

JMO.

[scottk_61]

You need to flesh out the reason why it is not wrong to go two times past the hip on the pitch, and why requirements there are for allowing that two times.
Around here, "two times past the hip" has been said so much, that many believe that two complete revolutions are allowed instead of dropping the pitching hand down to the side and back before going around.

Some of these myths need to be correctred by not only telling that they are myths but what the truch is..

[wadeintothem]

· Tie goes to the runner. FALSE. It doesn’t go to the fielder, either. The runner either beats the throw or the throw beats the runner. Ties do not exist.

I think this has more to do with "guessing a runner out" - if its so close you cant really tell - they are safe as opposed to out.

It also seems odd to say that there cannot be a tie - the ball and the runner could in fact get there at the exact same time, or so close the human eye could not tell, in which case, the runner should be declared safe; as you would not guess that they runner was out, or guess that the ball beat the runner there..

Hence the saying - which is probably more a saying than a myth such as my most hated myth "hands part of the bat" which I hear every year.

[whiskers_ump]

Originally posted by wadeintothem
· Tie goes to the runner. FALSE. It doesn’t go to the fielder, either. The runner either beats the throw or the throw beats the runner. Ties do not exist.

I think this has more to do with "guessing a runner out" - if its so close you cant really tell - they are safe as opposed to out.

It also seems odd to say that there cannot be a tie - the ball and the runner could in fact get there at the exact same time, or so close the human eye could not tell, in which case, the runner should be declared safe; as you would not guess that they runner was out, or guess that the ball beat the runner there..

Hence the saying - which is probably more a saying than a myth such as my most hated myth "hands part of the bat" which I hear every year.

A play that close, the player making the best effort for the end
result will get the call. (i.e. SS makes a diving grab deep in the
and from her knees throws BR out at 1B.) Sell it, look the offensive
coach straight in the eyes, and return to your position. If the runner
made a better effort (i.e. arrived same time when she should have
been out by the "old by a mile") Sell it, stare at the location of
the play, return to position.
JMWOHAT - Just my way of handling a tie, or apparent tie.

[SWFLguy]

what whiskers says may indeed influence us in our calls--
BUT
basically when you have the two events:
runner touching the base first
or
fielder touching the base with the ball in hand/glove first
if I can see one or the other CLEARLY
before the other event-- I easily can call
out or safe-
BUT
if I cannot separate the two events
I wil call the runner safe !!
the word TIE is not a factor to me at all.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump


A play that close, the player making the best effort for the end
result will get the call. (i.e. SS makes a diving grab deep in the
and from her knees throws BR out at 1B.) Sell it, look the offensive
coach straight in the eyes, and return to your position. If the runner
made a better effort (i.e. arrived same time when she should have
been out by the "old by a mile") Sell it, stare at the location of
the play, return to position.
JMWOHAT - Just my way of handling a tie, or apparent tie.

Glen, are you trying to bait me or what?

Effort is irrelevant, period. The umpire's job is NOT to reward effort or skill. The umpire is paid to determine the result of the play, not grade the play itself.

I do know umpires that take Glen's approach. I've seen these umpires morph into spectators to the point THEY damn near miss the end of the play.

Am I saying that an umpire cannot recognize a good play? No, I am saying that should not be a determining factor in the umpire's ruling.

[Skahtboi]

Originally posted by mcrowder
Actually, Skaht - what you refer to reinforces that the myth is a myth. Tim just doesn't need the exceptions for HS. The myth is --- "The batter may not overrun first base when he/she gets a base-on-balls." That statement is false, and is a myth. Just delete the rest of the stuff about H.S.

Yup. You are right. I was reading it the other way around!